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A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. Rock Natalie Maines “Mother” (Columbia Records) Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines pledges her allegiance to rock ‘n’ roll with her strong solo debut “Mother.” A decade ago, the Dixie Chicks and the country music establishment fell out in rather spectacular bridge-burning fashion when Maines told a London audience in the days before the Iraq War that she was ashamed President George W.

A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. “Oz the Great and Powerful” Traversing the Yellow Brick Road is a tricky balancing act that director Sam Raimi mostly pulls off in captivating style with “Oz the Great and Powerful.” Enchantingly spun off 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz,” one of the most beloved movies in cinema history, and the L.

A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. “Meet the Fraggles” In many ways, “Fraggle Rock” remains the redheaded (well, sometimes yellow- or purple-haired) stepchild to “The Muppets” and “Sesame Street,” ubiquitous and enduring franchises inhabited by similarly colorful critters dreamed up by puppet pioneer Jim Henson.

A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look of The Oklahoman. The Red Dirt Rangers also are on the lineup for Sunday’s “Red Dirt Rising” tornado relief benefit show at the Arbuckle Ballroom in Davis. For more information, click here.

“Greater Tuna” becomes, in this production, greater than a simple comedy and the complexity creates interesting pathos increasing the humor.

Review of the new 2013 Volkswagen Passat.

A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. Country Pistol Annies “Annie Up” (Sony Music Entertainment) The Pistol Annies play another stout hand of sharply written, satisfyingly real songs with their sophomore album, “Annie Up.” The ascension of Miranda Lambert’s side project has been one of the most pleasant surprises on the mainstream country music scene in the past few years.

A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. “Cloud Atlas” With three co-writer/directors, a star-studded international cast and six interconnected stories, maybe it’s not a surprise that “Cloud Atlas” is such a surprising cinematic creation: a big-budget spectacle and weighty art-house drama all in one.

“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.” — The Beatles, “The End” TULSA — Well before the end, it was clear that Sir Paul McCartney was taking and making plenty of love at the BOK Center Thursday night.

Tulsa Concerts & Shows on wimgo A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. To read my interview with Jason Boland, click here. COUNTRY Jason Boland & The Stragglers “Dark and Dirty Mile” (Proud Souls Entertainment/Thirty Tigers) Jason Boland & The Stragglers keep steadfastly walking the classic country road with “Dark and Dirty Mile,” the renowned Austin, Texas-based band’s seventh studio album.

A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. “Bangkok Revenge” With the summer blockbuster season in full swing, it’s somehow comforting to remember that the Hollywood studios don’t have the market cornered on cringe-worthy action flicks with atrocious acting, preposterous dialogue and shoddy storytelling.

A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. Country Lady Antebellum “Golden” (Capitol) Lady Antebellum picked the ideal name for their fifth studio album, “Golden,” a collection of bright, sunshiny songs that often feels as distant as some far-off orb.

  A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. 2 1/2 of 4 stars. Actor-director Robert Redford recruits an excellent company for “The Company You Keep,” his thriller about former revolutionaries that is neither thrilling nor revolutionary enough.

A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. “The Guilt Trip” Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogen make a convincing and charming mother-son duo in the warmly funny road comedy “The Guilt Trip.” Screenwriter Dan Fogelman (“Crazy, Stupid, Love.”) based the script on a real-life cross-country trip he took with his mother, which gives the film a cozy veracity.

A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. To read my new interview with Randy Rogers, click here. Country Randy Rogers Band “Trouble” (MCA Nashville) Lone Star State mainstays the Randy Rogers Band make their most daring, vivid and emotionally wrenching music yet with “Trouble.” Due out Tuesday, the album’s cover depicts a jailhouse fingerprint card, which is appropriate since this is one will leave a mark with Texas country fans.

A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. “John Dies at the End” It’s a testament to the downright strangeness of “John Dies at the End” that I still wasn’t quite sure by the end if the title could accurately be considered a spoiler.

  A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman Country The Band Perry “Pioneer” (Republic Nashville) The Band Perry boldly plants its flag as one of the most electrifying and entertaining country bands in recent memory with its decidedly slump-free sophomore album, “Pioneer.” The sibling trio — Kimberly Perry (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Reid Perry (bass, vocals) and Neil Perry (mandolin, drums, accordion, vocals) — stakes its claim in an unusual sweet spot where traditional and contemporary country intersect with classic rock and bluegrass with its second album, which had them working for the first time with in-demand producer Dann Huff (Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts).

A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. 3 1/2 of 4 stars. Movie review: “To the Wonder” Oklahoma-bred auteur Terrence Malick’s romantic drama, filmed in part around Bartlesville, Pawhuska and Tulsa, features little story and even less dialogue, but effectively uses engrossing imagery to delve into the nature of love.  Oklahoma-bred auteur Terrence Malick offers up a wondrous cinematic poem that ruminates on the nature of love with “To the Wonder.” The rare truly experimental art filmmaker to gain mainstream acclaim, the famously mysterious Malick, 69, grew up in Bartlesville, and he filmed “To the Wonder” in and around his hometown, Pawhuska and Tulsa, as well as in France.

A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. 3 of 4 stars. To read my interview with “42″ actor Ryan Merriman, click here. Movie review: “42” It may not rewrite the rulebook, but the earnest biopic does right by groundbreaking baseball player Jackie Robinson, which makes it a solid win.

A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. “Samson and Delilah” The long-awaited DVD release of “Samson and Delilah” cloaks Cecil B. DeMille’s gloriously gaudy biblical saga in a high-tech restoration every bit as gorgeous as the film’s Oscar-honored costumes.